SOMERS, N.Y. -- Tony DeMatteo, the winningest coach in Section 1 history, is hoping Somers' misfortunes in 2015 turns into something positive for this year's team.
Somers, coming off a 4-5 season that saw the team lose in the first round of the playoffs to Lourdes, endured a number of key injuries last fall, and DeMatteo is looking for the players who stepped in last year, to step up this season.
"With bad luck, sometimes it becomes good luck," DeMatteo told Daily Voice during a visit to Tuskers training camp. "We lost a lot to injury last year, but the good news is that those kids (who did play) are now back, and I think we'll be very competitive. We've had a great pre-season, and the kids have worked hard."
DeMatteo, also the section's most veteran active varsity football coach who has a career record of 322-94-1, has guided his teams to 13 Section 1 championships: 10 with Roosevelt and three with Somers. This will be his 17th year at Somers and 47th overall coaching.
Check out the video to see Daily Voice talk to DeMatteo and Tusker team leaders Messiah Horne, Nick Gargiulo and Kevin Olifiers.
Somers is set to open the 2016 season on the road Friday, Sept. 2, facing Lakeland at 7 p.m.
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